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Wednesday, 27 December 2017

Interview with Drew Hall - Director of Sasq-Watch!

Drew Hall talks about his new comedy Sasq-watch!, out now on VOD and DVD, starring Paul Brittain.

Do you remember where you were when you came upon the project?
D: I was visiting my buddy Jarrod Murray in Los Angeles. We were at a delightful Korean BBQ place. He emailed me the script and I read it on the flight home. I must have looked crazy as I was laughing out loud as I read through it.

Inspirations?

D: It all comes from my childhood. I grew up watching so many 80’s B movies and cartoons. I’m not a huge fan of nostalgia, but felt like this particular script really resonated with my early childhood.

How long of a shoot was it?
D: We shot for about 21 days. The best part of the film was that we all (cast and crew) lived together on top of a mountain for 3 weeks. It was like being at some really odd film summer camp – Wet Hot American Summer style. Relationships formed and ended. We ate 3 meals together. It was pretty foggy and dangerous at night so we literally just hung out around the fire. Couple of days I smoked a pork butt because we had the time. It was just a really different filmmaking experience. If you ask any of the cast and crew they all referred to it as Camp Cheaha.

Was it local? Or were parts of it filmed all over?

D: The majority of the film was shot at the Cheaha state park in north Alabama, but we did shoot the less rural scenes in Mobile, Alabama.

How did the film perform in other territories?
D: We were released in China – which is pretty awesome. Its doing well. I mean every culture has some kind of bigfoot lore and the comedic elements of the film don’t really rely upon a ton of Americanized pop culture – so its purely funny in a mixed space.

Has it been marketed differently in other territories?

D: I don’t actually know beyond the title change from Nigel and Oscar Vs. The Sasquatch. I’m sure the Squatch gets shifted as the names for bigfoot vary from culture to culture.

How important is a social media presence for a film?

D: That’s how it all works now days – especially for an indie film. We should probably have one.

What’s one thing people probably don’t realize about making indie films? It’s not easy, right!?
D: Making any sort of film is quite the feat. So I applaud any filmmaker out there willing to take the risk and just put themselves on public display whether it’s a film or on YouTube. I do feel like the big Hollywood machine is making it increasingly more difficult to hear/see new voices. I get that it is a business, but sometimes the best stories come from those who have fought against the odds to make their project happen. I think indie filmmakers typically have a greater appreciation for opportunity, cause it is so rare to them.

And when does the job end for you?
D: Never…I produce all of my own films so that means I’m on the hook for a very, very long time.

What’s the goal here? Make some money? Get another job? Give the world the next cult classic?
D: Can I say all of the above? One feeds into another and I’d like to keep my family fed, clothed, and housed. Its not a greed thing. It is just the idea that if we can keep going then hopefully it can inspire others to do the same.

What do you love about genre movies?

D: Genre films are like cheeseburgers – they are comforting, often innovative, and yet familiar. I think that a genre film provides the best platform for emerging filmmakers because in my experience as both viewer and filmmaker, that’s where innovation come from.